Justin Baker, 4 of Brentwood, feeds a goat at the Oakland Children's Zoo on the official opening day.
Event on 7/16/05 in Oakland. JAKUB MOSUR / The Chronicle

Justin Baker, 4 of Brentwood, feeds a goat at the Oakland Children's Zoo on the official opening day.
Event on 7/16/05 in Oakland. JAKUB MOSUR / The Chronicle

Photo: JAKUB MOSUR

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Russell Peck, 2 of Fremont, navigates through a tortoise shell at the Oakland Children's Zoo on the official opening day.
Event on 7/16/05 in Oakland. JAKUB MOSUR / The Chronicle

Russell Peck, 2 of Fremont, navigates through a tortoise shell at the Oakland Children's Zoo on the official opening day.
Event on 7/16/05 in Oakland. JAKUB MOSUR / The Chronicle

Photo: JAKUB MOSUR

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Alex Diaz, 6 of Oakland, navigates through a tortoise shell at the Oakland Children's Zoo on the official opening day.
Event on 7/16/05 in Oakland. JAKUB MOSUR / The Chronicle

Alex Diaz, 6 of Oakland, navigates through a tortoise shell at the Oakland Children's Zoo on the official opening day.
Event on 7/16/05 in Oakland. JAKUB MOSUR / The Chronicle

Photo: JAKUB MOSUR

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First taste of the new zoo

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The Valley Children's Zoo opened to the public Saturday. Among the visitors to the $12.5 million, 4-acre Oakland Zoo addition were Justin Baker, 4, of Brentwood, feeding a goat, above. Meanwhile, Russell Peck, 2, of Fremont and Alex Diaz, 6, of Oakland had fun climbing through tortoise shells in a play area, below. Among the $4.5 million in private donations to build the zoo was $2 million from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, an Oakland-based nonprofit. The new zoo has been under construction since August 2003. It includes 10 exhibits, an amphitheater and a replica of a crocodilian fossil. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.